Cover art: Products that got it right/wrong

Tim · December 10, 2010, 09:56:30 AM

The cover for Traveller:2300 was superbly gritty.

Tim · December 10, 2010, 10:03:15 AM

Quote from: Cole;424683I no longer have the box, either just the contents. I think this image was also used on the cover of RQ basic (which I had first).

Ah, yes. No sandstorm, but it looks like they're about to go through hell, nonetheless.

What I REALLY loved about that box set were the tales of Cormac used to illustrate various rules situations. Not only were the little vignettes beautifully drawn, they gave you a glimpse into what, at the time, sounded like the coolest campaign ever.

jgants · December 10, 2010, 10:50:00 AM

One cover that always stands out to me is the one for Gamma World 3e.

The cover was as spectacular as the game inside was awful.

DKChannelBoredom · December 10, 2010, 11:00:52 AM

one of the worst covers I can remember. For Fairy, Queen and Country.

what a mess. And it's really a shame as the contents was pretty good. But I doubt I would have picked it of a shelf with that cover.

boulet · December 10, 2010, 11:11:02 AM

Quote from: Benoist;424629I remember when I found out about the Yelmite Hoplite mercenary band in Dragon Pass (which I think is who this guy on the cover actually is, though I'm not really sure - in the magazine they were named the "Hoplites Flamboyants", i.e. Flaming Hoplites, though I'm not sure what the mercenary band's name is in English) while reading a French magazine, and I totally fell in love with them. So I guess that French guy has a thing going for that kind of helmet at least...

This cover art, plus the ducks, really turned me off. I played Stormbringer and hawkmoon a bit, but Runequest just didn't click, however passionately people tried to sell me on it.

A couple that worked for me:

And

Aos · December 10, 2010, 11:17:56 AM

Quote from: winkingbishop;424631In the OP, I mentioned how the GURPS Basic Set cover art somehow enchanted me during my youth with its promise of one system/any character. I don't know if I'm simply jaded now, but these leave me cold (you'll note the similarities easily):

No, True20 is a fine game with a lousy cover and so-so interior art. It's the Steve Kenson curse, if i like the art, I don't like the game, as with M&M, but if like the game the art has got to suck a little as with True 20 and Icons.

thedungeondelver · December 10, 2010, 11:31:17 AM

here are two Twilight:2000 covers. I'll let you decide which is the more evocative and thereby better.

ggroy · December 10, 2010, 11:33:28 AM

Quote from: boulet;424760This cover art, plus the ducks, really turned me off. I played Stormbringer and hawkmoon a bit, but Runequest just didn't click, however passionately people tried to sell me on it.

Agreed.

The ducks were the number one thing which turned off a lot people from Runequest back in the day, regardless of how much I tried to convince people otherwise.

DKChannelBoredom · December 10, 2010, 11:41:22 AM

Oh the ducks....

Actually this cover is one of my all time favorites. I think it was Stormbringer 4th edition, but it was also front of Drager & Dæmoner (Dragons & Demons), one of the first roleplaying games in Danish. I don't know if it was a translation of RuneQuest or Stormbringer, but it was awesome... and had ducks.

Tetsubo · December 10, 2010, 12:28:08 PM

Quote from: jgants;424750One cover that always stands out to me is the one for Gamma World 3e.

The cover was as spectacular as the game inside was awful.

Ah. I liked 3E GW. I mean I love the 1992 4th edition. But I ran a modified 3E for three years. Still have the notes...

Tetsubo · December 10, 2010, 12:32:36 PM

I love good RPG art. I have bought gaming books just because of good interior art. For systems that I don't play. For systems that I don't even *own*. And bad art can break a game for me. I've just not bought things because the art was bad.

But interestingly, bad art helped me find one of my all time favorite RPG books, Everstone: Blood Legacy. The cover art is garish, bright and visually overloaded. Absolutely over the top. I bought it as a lark because I was just overwhelmed by the cover. Then I read the content and fell in love. And the interior art was quite good, though B&W. I thought I was buying a Bad RPG book. But I got a Great RPG book.

jibbajibba · December 10, 2010, 12:36:12 PM

The key to a good cover is can it sell a Shit game.

So this cover wins

Game was dire but I was at the UK Games Day where it was released and I have never seen a game sell faster.

Cole · December 10, 2010, 12:45:47 PM

Quote from: Tim;424739Ah, yes. No sandstorm, but it looks like they're about to go through hell, nonetheless.

What I REALLY loved about that box set were the tales of Cormac used to illustrate various rules situations. Not only were the little vignettes beautifully drawn, they gave you a glimpse into what, at the time, sounded like the coolest campaign ever.

I enjoyed those as well; the Cormac examples conveyed the tone of RQ in a way that wasn't heavy handed and gave the sense that the world was very 'living' and open-ended.

flyingmice · December 10, 2010, 12:58:54 PM

Got it wrong:

Looks like a lipstick stain, or someone testing out a big-ass marker. Flat squoosh conveys nothing of the game inside!

Got it right:

Optimistic and trendy green! Lively squiggle tells you everything you need to know about the game! Good show!

-clash

winkingbishop · December 10, 2010, 01:07:04 PM

Quote from: Aos;424763No, True20 is a fine game with a lousy cover and so-so interior art. It's the Steve Kenson curse, if i like the art, I don't like the game, as with M&M, but if like the game the art has got to suck a little as with True 20 and Icons.

I like True20 the game just fine as well. My comment was about the cover alone. It is suck...and minty.